PH chessers bounce back

TROMSO, Norway—Team Philippines struck on both fronts in the ninth round Monday, keeping hopes of strong finishes in the 41st Chess Olympiad being held here.

The Filipinos drubbed the Pakistanis, 3-1, to stay within sight of matching their output in the Open section of the 2012 Istanbul Olympiad.

The resurgent PH ladies were even more imposing in a 3.5-0.5 drubbing of the Costa Ricans that put them on track of surpassing their score in the Women’s section of the previous edition.

Handling white with precision, Grandmasters John Paul Gomez and Jayson Gonzales subdued International Master Shahzad Mirza and Mudasir Iqbal, in boards 2 and 4, respectively, to give the Filipinos the big lift.

Youthful IM Paulo Bersamina then ensured the victory by forging a draw with Ali Syed Ahmad before top board player GM Julio Catalino Sadorra sealed the outcome with a 73-move draw against IM Mahmood Lodni in a pawns and bishop of opposite color ending.

In his finest showing thus far, Gomez gave up a bishop for a mate in one, forcing Mirza to resign in 32 moves.

Gonzales, on the other hand, was about to capture a rook when Iqbal surrendered after 34 moves of a Benko Deferred.

Pouncing on lower-rated opponents, WIMS Janelle Mae Frayna, Catherine Perena and Christy Lamiel Bernales posted quick triumphs in boards 1, 3 and 4, leaving the clean-up job to top scorer Jan Jodilyn Fronda, who was eventually held to a draw by Woman Fide Master Maria Elena Rodriguez-Arietta.

Frayna beat WFM Olga Leticia Gamboa Alvarado in 27 moves of a Pirc Defense, Perena needed 33 moves to conquer Lisseth Acevedo Mendez, while Bernales used up 32 of a London System to subdue Maia Jose Ramirez Gonzales.

With 11 match points, all the ladies have to do is hold the Latvians in the 10th and penultimate round Tuesday to equal their production in the Turkey edition.

The men have 10 points and need to beat the Bolivians to have a chance of matching their 14-point output.

Gonzales, the designated team captain for both teams, decided to rest Torre anew in the third round in preparation for the final round on Thursday.

Thus far, the Chinese and the French are pacing the Open section with 15 points each. China settled for a 2-2 standoff with Ukraine while France nipped Czech Republic, 2.5-1.5.

Trailing them at 14 points were Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Hungary followed by 13-pointers Russia, India, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Armenia, Poland, Uzbekistan, Serbia, Vietnam, Germany, Belarus and Argentina.

Russia continued to lord it over in the distaff side with a perfect 18 points, towing along China (16) and Ukraine (15). Spain, Germany, Romania and Poland shared fourth spot with 14 points each.